CA2094684A1 - Alignment aid for golf clubs - Google Patents
Alignment aid for golf clubsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2094684A1 CA2094684A1 CA002094684A CA2094684A CA2094684A1 CA 2094684 A1 CA2094684 A1 CA 2094684A1 CA 002094684 A CA002094684 A CA 002094684A CA 2094684 A CA2094684 A CA 2094684A CA 2094684 A1 CA2094684 A1 CA 2094684A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- screen
- club
- face
- mark
- aligned
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
- A63B60/42—Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
- A63B69/36—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for golf
- A63B69/3623—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for golf for driving
- A63B69/3632—Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
- A63B69/36—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for golf
- A63B69/3676—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for golf for putting
- A63B69/3685—Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning
Abstract
ALIGNMENT AID FOR GOLF CLUBS
Abstract of the Disclosure A golf club is provided with an alignment device for indicating when the face of the club is properly aligned. The alignment device comprises a linearoptic screen or lenticular decal which provides a three-dimensional indicator, such as a line which appears below the top surface of the screen, for indicating when the face is aligned.
Abstract of the Disclosure A golf club is provided with an alignment device for indicating when the face of the club is properly aligned. The alignment device comprises a linearoptic screen or lenticular decal which provides a three-dimensional indicator, such as a line which appears below the top surface of the screen, for indicating when the face is aligned.
Description
2~9~684 Baçk~roun~
This invention relates to gol~ clubs, and, more particularly, to an alignment aid ~or indicating wh~n a gol~
club is properly aligned.
A golf club, for example, an iron typs oP gol~ club, includes a hitting face for strikilg a gol~ ball~ I~ the gol~
club iS to hit the gol~ ball accurat~ly, the hitting face must be properly aligned with tha intended linQ o~ ~light o~ the ball. For a straight ~hot, i.e., a shot ~or which th~ player doa~ not intend to impart dra~ or ~Eade ~pin to the ball, the club face mu~t be aligned squar2 to the targ~t line. The club face o~ an iron i5 square to the target line wh~n the plane o~
the ~acQ i~ perpendicular to a vertical plan~ along the target line. Tha faca o~ a wood type o~ gol~ club conventionally includes bulge and roll curvature, and a wood club is square to the target lin~ wh~n a plana which i~ tangent to th~ center of the face is perpendicular to a vertical plane along the target line.
Many gol~er~, particularly b~ginnlng golfer~, have difficulty in d~t~ining wh~n a gol~ cl~b i8 prop~rly aligned.
Even accompli~h~d golfers periodically experi~ncQ proble~ with align~ant. BQcau~ a play~r i9 standing to ona 5ide of the targat lin~ and c~nnot look down the targ2t lin~ when he addresses the golf ball, it is di~icult to deter~in~ when th~
club f~ce i~ square. I~ th~ player intends to '~workN the ball by closing or openiny thQ ~ac~ o~ the club at addre~ is difficult to d~t~rmine the degree to which the club ~ac~ is closed or open relativ~ to th2 tar~et lin~. The pro~lem of alignment is suc~l that many golf~r~ cannot be ~ur~ that the club faco i~ properly aligned without th~ as~i~tanc~ o~ another p~r~on who ~tands~ b~hind th~ playQr ~long ~h~ target line and ob~erve~ th~ po8ition of th~ elub fa~.
' ~ . . . . .
~0946B4 S~3~y Q~ ~he I~Y~atl~n The inventlon provides a ~imple alignment d~vice which is mounted on tha golf club and which enables the gol~er to determine when the club face i~ properly aligned without the assistance of another person. The alignment device comprises a linearoptic or lenticular ~creen which provides a three-dimensional visual image o~ an indicating mark below the sur~ace o~ the screen. When the position o~ the screen changes relative to th~ gol~er's eyes, the position o~ the ind$cating mark changes at a magnifiQd rate, thereby providing a readily apparent indication o~ the po~ition of the club Pacs~ In one embodiment o~ the align~ent devicu the screen provides the image of a line which i~ aligned with lines on th~ cl~b above and below tha screen when the club face i5 aligned sgu~re to the target. When the club shart and club ~ace are rotated li~htly out of alignment, the line on tha screan moves out of alignment with the lines on the club. In anoth~r embodiment o~ th~
alignm~nt devica no imag~ i~ vi3ible on the ~creen when the club face is properly aligned, but an indicating ~ark or color become~ vi~ibl~ i~ thQ club is rotatQd out of align~ent in either directlon.
The invention will be explained in conjunction wit}~
illustrativa embodi~nts ~hown in thel a¢companying drawing, i n which --Fig. 1 is an elevational Yiew o~ a gol~ club equipp~dwith an align~nent d~vic:~ in ac:cordanc~ with the invention;
Fig. 2 is an ~nlarged ~rag~nen~:ary view Or a portion Or th~ gol~ club o~' Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 i~ a view ~imilar to Fig. 2 showing the gol club rotated clockwi~e;
- 2D~9~8~
Fig. 4 i~ a view ~i~ilar to Fig. :2 ~howinq the gol~
club rotated counterclockwise;
Fig. 5 is a plan view o~ the alignment device;
Fig. ~ is a ~idQ elevatiollal view o~ ~h~ alignment device;
Fig. 7 illustrate~ a modi~Eied embodiment of the alignment device wherein the alig~uent d~ics i~ mounted within the grip of the golf clu~;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged ra~n~ntary ~ctional view take~
along the line 8-8 o~ Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is another embodiment o~ the al ignment device in which the align~ent device is ~ounted on the hoæel a~ the club head:
Fig. 10 i~ a plan ViQW of an alignment davic~ in which no indicating mark i3 visible when the club is propQrly aligned;
Fig. 11 illu~trat~ the al~gnment d~vice o~ Fig. 10 which is rotated c15ckwi~ from the Fig, 10 position, thereby brin~inq an indicating mark into view, Fig. 12 illustrat~ th~ alignm~nt dQvice of Fig. 10 in which tho align~ant devic~ i~ rotated count~rclockwi~ from the Fig. 10 po~ition, ~hereby bringing an indicatinq mark into view;
~ ig. 13 i~ an el~vational vi~w o~ a put~er which is equipped with an align~nt devic~ on th~ grip; and Fig. 14 is an enlarged ~ctional vi~w taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 13.
Pe~c~i~tion o~ S~çi~ic ~bo~e~
Referring to ~ig~ 4, a conv~ntional iron-typQ golf club 15 includes an elongate~ shar~ 16 and a club head 17 mounted on thQ low~r end o~ ~he ~haft. ~ grip 18 i3 mounted on the upper end of th~ ~haft.
' The club head 17 inc ~ ~ ~ n~ Pace or striking face 20, a rear face 21, a ~ole 22, a toe 23, and a heel 24. ~he ~ront face 20 is provided with ~roove~ or squar~ line~ 25 (see also Fig. 9). The particular club head illu trated al50 includes a hosPl 26 which i~ connected to the shaft 16.
An alignment device 28 is mounted on the shaft 16 just below the grip 18. The particular alignment device illustrated is a linearoptic or lenticular sc:rsen. Such devices are well known and provide a thre~ dimensi.onal imag~ which change~
position and/or color depending upon the angle at which the screen is viewed, Linearoptic sc:reens are a~ailable ~rom Optigraphics Corp., 924 Avenue J Ea3t, Grand Pr~irie, Texas 75050 under the name Magic Motion and ar~ de cribed in U.S.
Patent Nos. 2,833,176, 3,225,457, 3,538,632, 3,520,588,
This invention relates to gol~ clubs, and, more particularly, to an alignment aid ~or indicating wh~n a gol~
club is properly aligned.
A golf club, for example, an iron typs oP gol~ club, includes a hitting face for strikilg a gol~ ball~ I~ the gol~
club iS to hit the gol~ ball accurat~ly, the hitting face must be properly aligned with tha intended linQ o~ ~light o~ the ball. For a straight ~hot, i.e., a shot ~or which th~ player doa~ not intend to impart dra~ or ~Eade ~pin to the ball, the club face mu~t be aligned squar2 to the targ~t line. The club face o~ an iron i5 square to the target line wh~n the plane o~
the ~acQ i~ perpendicular to a vertical plan~ along the target line. Tha faca o~ a wood type o~ gol~ club conventionally includes bulge and roll curvature, and a wood club is square to the target lin~ wh~n a plana which i~ tangent to th~ center of the face is perpendicular to a vertical plane along the target line.
Many gol~er~, particularly b~ginnlng golfer~, have difficulty in d~t~ining wh~n a gol~ cl~b i8 prop~rly aligned.
Even accompli~h~d golfers periodically experi~ncQ proble~ with align~ant. BQcau~ a play~r i9 standing to ona 5ide of the targat lin~ and c~nnot look down the targ2t lin~ when he addresses the golf ball, it is di~icult to deter~in~ when th~
club f~ce i~ square. I~ th~ player intends to '~workN the ball by closing or openiny thQ ~ac~ o~ the club at addre~ is difficult to d~t~rmine the degree to which the club ~ac~ is closed or open relativ~ to th2 tar~et lin~. The pro~lem of alignment is suc~l that many golf~r~ cannot be ~ur~ that the club faco i~ properly aligned without th~ as~i~tanc~ o~ another p~r~on who ~tands~ b~hind th~ playQr ~long ~h~ target line and ob~erve~ th~ po8ition of th~ elub fa~.
' ~ . . . . .
~0946B4 S~3~y Q~ ~he I~Y~atl~n The inventlon provides a ~imple alignment d~vice which is mounted on tha golf club and which enables the gol~er to determine when the club face i~ properly aligned without the assistance of another person. The alignment device comprises a linearoptic or lenticular ~creen which provides a three-dimensional visual image o~ an indicating mark below the sur~ace o~ the screen. When the position o~ the screen changes relative to th~ gol~er's eyes, the position o~ the ind$cating mark changes at a magnifiQd rate, thereby providing a readily apparent indication o~ the po~ition of the club Pacs~ In one embodiment o~ the align~ent devicu the screen provides the image of a line which i~ aligned with lines on th~ cl~b above and below tha screen when the club face i5 aligned sgu~re to the target. When the club shart and club ~ace are rotated li~htly out of alignment, the line on tha screan moves out of alignment with the lines on the club. In anoth~r embodiment o~ th~
alignm~nt devica no imag~ i~ vi3ible on the ~creen when the club face is properly aligned, but an indicating ~ark or color become~ vi~ibl~ i~ thQ club is rotatQd out of align~ent in either directlon.
The invention will be explained in conjunction wit}~
illustrativa embodi~nts ~hown in thel a¢companying drawing, i n which --Fig. 1 is an elevational Yiew o~ a gol~ club equipp~dwith an align~nent d~vic:~ in ac:cordanc~ with the invention;
Fig. 2 is an ~nlarged ~rag~nen~:ary view Or a portion Or th~ gol~ club o~' Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 i~ a view ~imilar to Fig. 2 showing the gol club rotated clockwi~e;
- 2D~9~8~
Fig. 4 i~ a view ~i~ilar to Fig. :2 ~howinq the gol~
club rotated counterclockwise;
Fig. 5 is a plan view o~ the alignment device;
Fig. ~ is a ~idQ elevatiollal view o~ ~h~ alignment device;
Fig. 7 illustrate~ a modi~Eied embodiment of the alignment device wherein the alig~uent d~ics i~ mounted within the grip of the golf clu~;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged ra~n~ntary ~ctional view take~
along the line 8-8 o~ Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is another embodiment o~ the al ignment device in which the align~ent device is ~ounted on the hoæel a~ the club head:
Fig. 10 i~ a plan ViQW of an alignment davic~ in which no indicating mark i3 visible when the club is propQrly aligned;
Fig. 11 illu~trat~ the al~gnment d~vice o~ Fig. 10 which is rotated c15ckwi~ from the Fig, 10 position, thereby brin~inq an indicating mark into view, Fig. 12 illustrat~ th~ alignm~nt dQvice of Fig. 10 in which tho align~ant devic~ i~ rotated count~rclockwi~ from the Fig. 10 po~ition, ~hereby bringing an indicatinq mark into view;
~ ig. 13 i~ an el~vational vi~w o~ a put~er which is equipped with an align~nt devic~ on th~ grip; and Fig. 14 is an enlarged ~ctional vi~w taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 13.
Pe~c~i~tion o~ S~çi~ic ~bo~e~
Referring to ~ig~ 4, a conv~ntional iron-typQ golf club 15 includes an elongate~ shar~ 16 and a club head 17 mounted on thQ low~r end o~ ~he ~haft. ~ grip 18 i3 mounted on the upper end of th~ ~haft.
' The club head 17 inc ~ ~ ~ n~ Pace or striking face 20, a rear face 21, a ~ole 22, a toe 23, and a heel 24. ~he ~ront face 20 is provided with ~roove~ or squar~ line~ 25 (see also Fig. 9). The particular club head illu trated al50 includes a hosPl 26 which i~ connected to the shaft 16.
An alignment device 28 is mounted on the shaft 16 just below the grip 18. The particular alignment device illustrated is a linearoptic or lenticular sc:rsen. Such devices are well known and provide a thre~ dimensi.onal imag~ which change~
position and/or color depending upon the angle at which the screen is viewed, Linearoptic sc:reens are a~ailable ~rom Optigraphics Corp., 924 Avenue J Ea3t, Grand Pr~irie, Texas 75050 under the name Magic Motion and ar~ de cribed in U.S.
Patent Nos. 2,833,176, 3,225,457, 3,538,632, 3,520,588,
3,582,329, and 3,775,110.
Briefly, a linearoptic screen which consi~ts of numerous tiny lense~ which ar~ laminated in register to a film which is i~printed with ~ultipl~ i~ag~. Each o~ t~ lens~s focuse~ on a digf~rent portion o~ th~ printad image, and as the angle of view o~ tho ~cre~n changes, the po~ition o~ the imay changesO
The linearoptic ~cre~n 28 i~ t and includes a front fac~ 29 (Figs. 5 and 6) which ~c~ away ~rom th~ ~haft of the gol~ club, ~ rear fac~ 30 which ~ac~ toward th~ golf club, and a generally rectangular sid~ ~ur~ce 31. Th~ scre~n i3 adhesiv~ly mounted on a strip o~ adh2si~ tape 32, and the adhe3iv~ tape i3 wrapped around the sha~t lS.
The graphic3 of the linearoptic SCEeen 28 provide~ the imaga o~ a straight l~n~ 34 when the ~ight lin~ fro~ the observer to the screen i~ perpendicular to th~ ~ront ~ace 29. A
pair of s~raight line~ 35 and 36 ar~ i~printed on the tape 32 above and below th~ screen. Tha 3cre0n i~ mounted on the shaft so that when a golr0r hold~ th~ club at addre~, he s~s ~he indicating line 3~ aligne~ with the line~ 35 and 36 when th~
club face i5 square to the ~arget line (see FigO 2~ the
Briefly, a linearoptic screen which consi~ts of numerous tiny lense~ which ar~ laminated in register to a film which is i~printed with ~ultipl~ i~ag~. Each o~ t~ lens~s focuse~ on a digf~rent portion o~ th~ printad image, and as the angle of view o~ tho ~cre~n changes, the po~ition o~ the imay changesO
The linearoptic ~cre~n 28 i~ t and includes a front fac~ 29 (Figs. 5 and 6) which ~c~ away ~rom th~ ~haft of the gol~ club, ~ rear fac~ 30 which ~ac~ toward th~ golf club, and a generally rectangular sid~ ~ur~ce 31. Th~ scre~n i3 adhesiv~ly mounted on a strip o~ adh2si~ tape 32, and the adhe3iv~ tape i3 wrapped around the sha~t lS.
The graphic3 of the linearoptic SCEeen 28 provide~ the imaga o~ a straight l~n~ 34 when the ~ight lin~ fro~ the observer to the screen i~ perpendicular to th~ ~ront ~ace 29. A
pair of s~raight line~ 35 and 36 ar~ i~printed on the tape 32 above and below th~ screen. Tha 3cre0n i~ mounted on the shaft so that when a golr0r hold~ th~ club at addre~, he s~s ~he indicating line 3~ aligne~ with the line~ 35 and 36 when th~
club face i5 square to the ~arget line (see FigO 2~ the
-4-club facQ is rotated out of th?~ sition, the indicating line 34 moves out oP alignment with tha lines 35 and 36 (seeFigs. 3 and 4).
The lenses of th~ linearoptic scr~sn 28 provide a thres dimensional depth to ~he image o~ the lina 34, and the line appears to ba below the plane o~ both the front ~aca 29 and rear face 30 of the screen and also below the lev~l o~ th~ lines 35 and 36 on the tape 32. The lenses of the linearoptic screen al50 magnify the movement of the indicating mark 34 relative to th~ ~ovement of the screen 28 so that a small movement o~ the screen relative to the vi2wer causa~ a greater movement oP the indicating line relativ~ to ths viewar. Ev~n a ~all movement of tha club out o~ th~ square po~ition i~ there~ora readily apparent by movement of the indicating line 34 away grom the line~ 35 and 36.
The indicatin~ line can be used not only to indicate to the golfer when th~ club ~ac~ i~ square to th~ target line at addres~ but also to provide an indication o~ the degres to which the club fac~ i~ open or clo~sd at addr~s. I~ the golfer desire3 to leave th~ club ~ace op~n or clo~ed at addres~ in order to spin th~ ball, ~h~ degr~e to which th~ club rac~ is open or clo~ed i~ indicated by th~ degree o~ alignm~nt of the indicating ~ark 3~ and the line~ 35 and 36.
Figur~ 7 and 8 illustrat~ th~ lin~aroptic ~creen 2~
mounted on a lub ~hat 38 unde~nea~h a grip 39. Th~ scre2n can bQ adhesiv~ly s~cured to the shaft, and the grip i~ pr~vided with an opening 40 which ~xposes th~ ~ront fac~ o~ the screen.
Lines 41 and 42 ar~ imprint~d on th~ grip and ar~ aligned with the indicating line 34 Or ~h~ screen when th~ club race is sguare to the targ~t lin~.
In Figur~ 9 th~ linearop~ic ~crs~n 28 i~ mou~t~d on the hosel 26 Or the club head. Straight lin~ 43 and 44 are imprint~d or etch~d on th~ ho~el and ar~ align~d with th~
indicating lin~ 3~ o~ the lin~aroptic screen when ~he d ub face is square to the taryet line.
Figure~ 10-12 illu~trate a lin~aroptic ~creen 46 which is similar to the linearoptic screen 28 ~xcept that thQ ~creen does not provide an i~age when the observer viaw~ the screen perpendicularly to the front ~ace ~7 o~ the ~creen as illustrated in Figure 10. When thl~ scraan i8 rota~ed lightly clockwise as illustrated in Figure 11, an indicating line 48 moves into view from the left edge o~ th~ ~cr~Qn. When th~
line~roptic screen i~ rotated oount~rcloc~wise slightly ~rom it~
Figure 10 position, an indicating line 49 mov~3 into view ~rom the right edge of the creen.
Figure 13 illu-~trate~ the linearoptic ~c~n 46 mounted on a putter 50. The putter include~ a ~ha~t 51, a putter head 52, and a grip 53. The linearoptic screen 4~ i~ adhe~ively mounted on ths lower portion oP the grip 53, although the screen could be mounted on the sha~t or th~ ho~el. When th~ face 54 of the putt~r h~ad i~ perpendicular to the targat lina, th~ golfer does not see any indicating line in th~ linearoptic screen 46.
However, if the fac~ of th~ putt~r i9 rotated ~lightly ou~ of lin~, one o~ th~ line~ 48 and 49 will G0~8 into vie~ and indicat~ ~o tha golf~r that th~ ~ac~ i~ out Or ~lignmen~. The printed 3haet of th~ lin~aroptic ~crean can b~ pritned to provid~ 0th8r indica~ing i~ag~s to the gol~er. For example, the linearoptic scr~n can pr~ide on~ color, ~or exa~pl~, green, when the club face i~ properly align~d and another color, for exa~pls, red, when the club ~ac~ i~ out o~ al ignment .
kv~n i~ the alignment aid i~ not allo~ed to b~ u~ed by the rule~ which ars applicable to a particular gol~ event, the alignment aid i~ useful a~ a prac~ice and ~raining device. By using the align~3nt devic~, a golRer can b~co~Q accu3tomed to the proper po~it.ion o~ th2 club face wh~n th~ club faca is align~d. He can thereaftsr r~ly on ~h~ po~ition o~ th~ club fac~ a~ a~suranC~e th~t ~hQ club face i~ properly aligned even when the alignment device i~ no~ ~ount~d on the club.
2 ~
While in the ~oregoing ~pe~i~ication a d~t~iled description of ~pecific embodimentq o~ the invQntion wa~ sQt forth for the purpose of illu3tration, it will be undar~tood that many of the detail~ herein given may be varied ~onsiderably by those skilled in the art without departing from th~ spirit and scop~ of the invention.
The lenses of th~ linearoptic scr~sn 28 provide a thres dimensional depth to ~he image o~ the lina 34, and the line appears to ba below the plane o~ both the front ~aca 29 and rear face 30 of the screen and also below the lev~l o~ th~ lines 35 and 36 on the tape 32. The lenses of the linearoptic screen al50 magnify the movement of the indicating mark 34 relative to th~ ~ovement of the screen 28 so that a small movement o~ the screen relative to the vi2wer causa~ a greater movement oP the indicating line relativ~ to ths viewar. Ev~n a ~all movement of tha club out o~ th~ square po~ition i~ there~ora readily apparent by movement of the indicating line 34 away grom the line~ 35 and 36.
The indicatin~ line can be used not only to indicate to the golfer when th~ club ~ac~ i~ square to th~ target line at addres~ but also to provide an indication o~ the degres to which the club fac~ i~ open or clo~sd at addr~s. I~ the golfer desire3 to leave th~ club ~ace op~n or clo~ed at addres~ in order to spin th~ ball, ~h~ degr~e to which th~ club rac~ is open or clo~ed i~ indicated by th~ degree o~ alignm~nt of the indicating ~ark 3~ and the line~ 35 and 36.
Figur~ 7 and 8 illustrat~ th~ lin~aroptic ~creen 2~
mounted on a lub ~hat 38 unde~nea~h a grip 39. Th~ scre2n can bQ adhesiv~ly s~cured to the shaft, and the grip i~ pr~vided with an opening 40 which ~xposes th~ ~ront fac~ o~ the screen.
Lines 41 and 42 ar~ imprint~d on th~ grip and ar~ aligned with the indicating line 34 Or ~h~ screen when th~ club race is sguare to the targ~t lin~.
In Figur~ 9 th~ linearop~ic ~crs~n 28 i~ mou~t~d on the hosel 26 Or the club head. Straight lin~ 43 and 44 are imprint~d or etch~d on th~ ho~el and ar~ align~d with th~
indicating lin~ 3~ o~ the lin~aroptic screen when ~he d ub face is square to the taryet line.
Figure~ 10-12 illu~trate a lin~aroptic ~creen 46 which is similar to the linearoptic screen 28 ~xcept that thQ ~creen does not provide an i~age when the observer viaw~ the screen perpendicularly to the front ~ace ~7 o~ the ~creen as illustrated in Figure 10. When thl~ scraan i8 rota~ed lightly clockwise as illustrated in Figure 11, an indicating line 48 moves into view from the left edge o~ th~ ~cr~Qn. When th~
line~roptic screen i~ rotated oount~rcloc~wise slightly ~rom it~
Figure 10 position, an indicating line 49 mov~3 into view ~rom the right edge of the creen.
Figure 13 illu-~trate~ the linearoptic ~c~n 46 mounted on a putter 50. The putter include~ a ~ha~t 51, a putter head 52, and a grip 53. The linearoptic screen 4~ i~ adhe~ively mounted on ths lower portion oP the grip 53, although the screen could be mounted on the sha~t or th~ ho~el. When th~ face 54 of the putt~r h~ad i~ perpendicular to the targat lina, th~ golfer does not see any indicating line in th~ linearoptic screen 46.
However, if the fac~ of th~ putt~r i9 rotated ~lightly ou~ of lin~, one o~ th~ line~ 48 and 49 will G0~8 into vie~ and indicat~ ~o tha golf~r that th~ ~ac~ i~ out Or ~lignmen~. The printed 3haet of th~ lin~aroptic ~crean can b~ pritned to provid~ 0th8r indica~ing i~ag~s to the gol~er. For example, the linearoptic scr~n can pr~ide on~ color, ~or exa~pl~, green, when the club face i~ properly align~d and another color, for exa~pls, red, when the club ~ac~ i~ out o~ al ignment .
kv~n i~ the alignment aid i~ not allo~ed to b~ u~ed by the rule~ which ars applicable to a particular gol~ event, the alignment aid i~ useful a~ a prac~ice and ~raining device. By using the align~3nt devic~, a golRer can b~co~Q accu3tomed to the proper po~it.ion o~ th2 club face wh~n th~ club faca is align~d. He can thereaftsr r~ly on ~h~ po~ition o~ th~ club fac~ a~ a~suranC~e th~t ~hQ club face i~ properly aligned even when the alignment device i~ no~ ~ount~d on the club.
2 ~
While in the ~oregoing ~pe~i~ication a d~t~iled description of ~pecific embodimentq o~ the invQntion wa~ sQt forth for the purpose of illu3tration, it will be undar~tood that many of the detail~ herein given may be varied ~onsiderably by those skilled in the art without departing from th~ spirit and scop~ of the invention.
Claims (9)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In combination, a golf club and an alignment device mounted on the golf club, the golf club having an elongated shaft having upper and lower ends, a grip on the upper end of the shaft, and a club head attached to the lower end of the shaft, the club head having a face for striking a golf ball, the alignment device comprising a screen viewable by a golfer while addressing a golf ball and which provides indicating means for indicating when the face of the club head is aligned with the direction in which the ball is intended to be struck, and said screen having a bottom surface which faces toward the golf club and a top surface which faces away from the golf club, said screen including lenses which provide a three-dimensional image of said indicating means so that the indicating means appears below the top surface of the screen.
2. The structure of claim 1 in which the club includes an alignment mark adjacent the screen, said indicating means comprising a line which is aligned with said mark when the face is properly aligned and which is offset from the mark when the face is not properly aligned.
3. The structure of claim 1 in which said indicating means comprises a mark which is visible when the face is not properly aligned and which is not visible when the face is properly aligned.
4. The structure of claim 1 in which said alignment device comprises a linearoptic screen having a plurality of lenses and an image behind the lenses for providing said indicating means.
5. The structure of claim 1 in which said screen is mounted on the shaft adjacent the grip.
6. The structure of claim 1 in which said grip is provided with an opening and said screen is mounted on the shaft and is exposed by the opening in the grip.
7. The structure of claim 1 in which said screen is mounted on the grip.
8. The structure of claim 1 in which said club head includes a hosel which connects the club head to the shaft, said screen being mounted on the hosel.
9. The structure of claim 1 in which the club includes an alignment mark adjacent the screen, said indicating means comprising a line which is aligned with said mark when the face is properly aligned and which is offset from the mark when the face is not properly aligned.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US921,726 | 1992-07-30 | ||
| US07/921,726 US5228695A (en) | 1992-07-30 | 1992-07-30 | Golf club including alignment device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2094684A1 true CA2094684A1 (en) | 1994-01-31 |
Family
ID=25445886
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002094684A Abandoned CA2094684A1 (en) | 1992-07-30 | 1993-06-22 | Alignment aid for golf clubs |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5228695A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0589151B1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU659558B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2094684A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69307640D1 (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA934420B (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8352400B2 (en) | 1991-12-23 | 2013-01-08 | Hoffberg Steven M | Adaptive pattern recognition based controller apparatus and method and human-factored interface therefore |
| US10361802B1 (en) | 1999-02-01 | 2019-07-23 | Blanding Hovenweep, Llc | Adaptive pattern recognition based control system and method |
| US5310188A (en) * | 1993-04-21 | 1994-05-10 | Hernberg Joseph G | Golf club swing alignment device |
| US5433446A (en) * | 1993-09-02 | 1995-07-18 | Marshall's Arts, Inc. | Golf club directional indicator |
| US5658205A (en) * | 1996-01-17 | 1997-08-19 | Bartscherer; Ted L. | Golf club head aligning aid |
| AT404323B (en) * | 1997-01-31 | 1998-10-27 | Neubauer Josef | DISPLAY AND CONTROL UNIT |
| US7268700B1 (en) | 1998-01-27 | 2007-09-11 | Hoffberg Steven M | Mobile communication device |
| US7904187B2 (en) | 1999-02-01 | 2011-03-08 | Hoffberg Steven M | Internet appliance system and method |
| US6679781B1 (en) * | 1999-04-26 | 2004-01-20 | Green-Maurer Golf Llc | Golf club head |
| US6692370B2 (en) | 2001-05-29 | 2004-02-17 | Lawrence J Koncelik, Jr. | Sporting equipment audible device |
| US6895680B2 (en) * | 2001-07-27 | 2005-05-24 | David P. Spencer | Golf head and shaft with flex neutralization and method for manufacturing same |
| US6743112B2 (en) * | 2002-09-26 | 2004-06-01 | Karsten Manufacturing Corp. | Putter head with visual alignment indicator |
| US20040110574A1 (en) * | 2002-12-09 | 2004-06-10 | Green Timothy M. | Reflective perimeter-weighted golf putter head |
| US9818136B1 (en) | 2003-02-05 | 2017-11-14 | Steven M. Hoffberg | System and method for determining contingent relevance |
| US7798910B2 (en) * | 2003-05-22 | 2010-09-21 | Swing King, Llc | Golf swing training device and method |
| CA2526606C (en) | 2003-05-22 | 2010-08-17 | Swing King, Llc | Golf swing training device and method |
| US20050075185A1 (en) * | 2003-10-02 | 2005-04-07 | Green Timothy M. | Golf putter head |
| US20050181889A1 (en) * | 2004-02-17 | 2005-08-18 | Green Timothy M. | Golf putter heads |
| US7524247B2 (en) * | 2005-05-19 | 2009-04-28 | Williams Jeffrey C | Golf training system |
| US7497785B2 (en) * | 2005-12-06 | 2009-03-03 | Koncelik Jr Lawrence J | Golf club swing improvement device |
| GB2436071A (en) * | 2006-03-14 | 2007-09-19 | Jonathan Fitzpatrick | Golf club head with lenticular lens |
| US7708648B2 (en) * | 2006-06-26 | 2010-05-04 | Brunton Innovations Inc. | Golf training device |
| US7914289B1 (en) * | 2007-01-09 | 2011-03-29 | James Keith Haley | System and method for golf instruction |
| US7415867B2 (en) * | 2007-01-23 | 2008-08-26 | David Patrick Spencer | Golf shaft and club flex neutralization/matching and method for manufacturing same |
| US8246481B2 (en) * | 2007-07-13 | 2012-08-21 | Nike, Inc. | Putters with enhanced alignment visualization |
| US20090017934A1 (en) * | 2007-07-13 | 2009-01-15 | Nike, Inc. | Putters with Enhanced Alignment Visualization |
| US8241138B2 (en) * | 2009-04-09 | 2012-08-14 | Peter Maglaque | Apparatuses, methods and systems for improving sports playing abilities |
| US8545340B2 (en) * | 2009-09-10 | 2013-10-01 | Cobra Golf Incorporated | Golf club with directional based graphic |
| US20130310189A1 (en) * | 2012-05-21 | 2013-11-21 | David Eddie Jacobs | Swing Plane Aid |
| JP6193549B2 (en) * | 2012-09-14 | 2017-09-06 | ダンロップスポーツ株式会社 | MOBILE BODY WITH FIXED MARKER AND METHOD FOR FIXING MARKER TO MOBILE BODY |
| US9533202B2 (en) | 2013-07-15 | 2017-01-03 | Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. | Golf club head with permanent performance indicating indicia |
| JP2015023985A (en) * | 2013-07-26 | 2015-02-05 | ダンロップスポーツ株式会社 | Golf club |
| KR101621468B1 (en) * | 2014-01-21 | 2016-05-16 | 박광영 | Look Watching Side Swing Putter |
| US10688364B2 (en) * | 2018-04-13 | 2020-06-23 | Bill Schmedes, III | Golf training aid and related method |
| US11504588B2 (en) | 2018-06-06 | 2022-11-22 | Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. | Rusty oxidizable metal face golf club head |
| US20200038726A1 (en) * | 2018-08-03 | 2020-02-06 | Eaton Intelligent Power Limited | Dynamic alignment aid for use on golf club grips |
| DE102019109518A1 (en) * | 2019-04-10 | 2020-10-15 | Salzgitter Mannesmann Stahlhandel Gmbh | Pipe clamp |
| KR102105267B1 (en) * | 2019-07-23 | 2020-04-27 | 김정식 | Golf clubs with reference system for improved accuracy for address |
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| US719771A (en) * | 1902-02-27 | 1903-02-03 | Robert Cecil Turle Evans | Optical device for advertising or other purposes. |
| US1216208A (en) * | 1916-07-06 | 1917-02-13 | Allan C Bussey | Egg-box. |
| US1475430A (en) * | 1922-02-27 | 1923-11-27 | Curwen John Spedding | Advertising device or toy |
| US2833176A (en) * | 1953-07-21 | 1958-05-06 | Ossoinak Andres Juan Luis | Arrangement for the exhibition of dynamic scenes to an observer in movement with respect to a screen |
| US3225457A (en) * | 1963-06-12 | 1965-12-28 | Schure Alexander | Device for selectively exposing and concealing stimuli |
| US3582329A (en) * | 1965-05-25 | 1971-06-01 | Vni Kinofotoinst | Method of making lenticular screens |
| US3468545A (en) * | 1966-08-29 | 1969-09-23 | Pictorial Prod Inc | Golfer's head movement indicating device |
| US3520588A (en) * | 1967-05-26 | 1970-07-14 | Eastman Kodak Co | Autostereo picture |
| US3538632A (en) * | 1967-06-08 | 1970-11-10 | Pictorial Prod Inc | Lenticular device and method for providing same |
| US3549300A (en) * | 1967-07-11 | 1970-12-22 | David T Pelz | Golf club with user aligning marks |
| DE1772567C3 (en) * | 1968-06-04 | 1981-07-16 | Agfa-Gevaert Ag, 5090 Leverkusen | Method and device for the production of lens grids |
| US4327916A (en) * | 1978-06-15 | 1982-05-04 | Yukio Shiratori | Golf club |
| US4340229A (en) * | 1981-02-06 | 1982-07-20 | Stuff Jr Alfred O | Golf club including alignment device |
| US4569525A (en) * | 1983-10-24 | 1986-02-11 | Folger James D | Golf club swing training device |
| WO1987004287A1 (en) * | 1986-01-06 | 1987-07-16 | Dennison Manufacturing Company | Multiple imaging |
| US4753440A (en) * | 1986-07-18 | 1988-06-28 | Robert Chorne | Golf club head with visual reference for addressing the golf ball |
| US4749196A (en) * | 1987-02-13 | 1988-06-07 | Podgor Joseph E | Club and head for putting |
| US4932659A (en) * | 1988-04-04 | 1990-06-12 | Freeberg Lloyd L | Golf putter with alignment device |
| US4884813A (en) * | 1988-10-11 | 1989-12-05 | Cates Glenn F | Golf club alignment device and method |
| US5158297A (en) * | 1990-12-17 | 1992-10-27 | Outdoor Technologies Group | Golf clubs with integral alignment indicia |
| US5152533A (en) * | 1991-05-20 | 1992-10-06 | Radakovich Daniel L | Golf club sighting apparatus and method |
-
1992
- 1992-07-30 US US07/921,726 patent/US5228695A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1993
- 1993-06-17 AU AU41315/93A patent/AU659558B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1993-06-21 ZA ZA934420A patent/ZA934420B/en unknown
- 1993-06-22 CA CA002094684A patent/CA2094684A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-06-23 EP EP93109974A patent/EP0589151B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-06-23 DE DE69307640T patent/DE69307640D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU659558B2 (en) | 1995-05-18 |
| AU4131593A (en) | 1994-02-03 |
| DE69307640D1 (en) | 1997-03-06 |
| US5228695A (en) | 1993-07-20 |
| EP0589151A1 (en) | 1994-03-30 |
| ZA934420B (en) | 1994-01-17 |
| EP0589151B1 (en) | 1997-01-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |